Pneumatic railway



NoeModel.)

J. B. KELLY. PNEUMATIG RAILWAY. No. 436,946. i Patented Sept. 23, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT j EEICE.

JOHN n. KELLY, or PLEASANT HOME, OREGON.

PN Eu MATIC RAILWAY;

i SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,946, dated September 23, 1890.

Application tiled May 31, 1890. Serial No. 353,741. (No model.)

To all wwntit may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN B. KELLY, a citi-` .ticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the pneumatic tube, showing also the carrier. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line as oc in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view of the piston and the carrier.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

1 designates the pneumatic tube, which has a cylindrical bore 2, at the upper edge of which is formed a recess 3, centrally in which is formed the longitudinal slot or opening 4, which extends throughout the entire length of the tube. Vhile it is preferred that the latter should be as nearly straight as possible, it may be curved when necessity demands.

The upper side of the tube is provided on each side of the central longitudinal slotwith shoulders or flanges 5 5, forming seats for a pair of cleats or guide-strips 6 6, having beveled or dovetailed inner edges '7 7. The cleats or guide-strips 6 are secured by means of screws or bolts 8, passing through transverse slots 9 in the said cleats, which latter are thereby rendered capable of being adjusted at a greater or less distance from the central slot or opening 4 in the pneumatic tube.

In the bore 2 of the tube 1 is mounted a piston, which consists of two separate heads lO 10, connected by a longitudinal rod 11 of suitable length. The pistonheads 10 are made of a size to t closely in the bore of the tube 1, and are to be provided with suitable packing to prevent leakage of air.

The longitudinal slot 4 in the pneumatic tube is closed by means of the flexible valvestrip 12,Which may be constructed of steel or other suitable material, and which is seated in the groove or recess 3 in the upper side of the bore of the tube. This longitudinalvalvestrip maybe suitably supported at the ends of the tube, which latter of course may be of in definite length. At intermediate points of the tube the valvestrip does not require to be supported; nor is this indeed necessary or practical, said valve-strip being in operation forced outwardly, so as to effect an air-tight joint with the longitudinal slot 4 by the interior pressure of the air in the tube 1,whichis supplied and sustained by means of a suitable forcing apparatus at one end of the line.V

In order to connect the piston with the carrier traveling outside the tube, it becomes -the railroad-car or other apparatus which is to be moved by means of my improved pneumatic motor.

16 designates a carrier consisting of a strip having inclined sides 17 fitting between the dovetailed guide-cleats 6, which latter as Wear takes place may be moved up closely against said carrier to insure a close and accurate t. The said carrier is provided with a slot 18, whereby it is adjusted over the upwardlyextending arm 14 of the saddle of the pistonrod. This carrier is provided with bolts or suitable means for connecting the same with the railroad-car or other apparatus to be moved.

The saddle 13 is mounted astride the pistonrod 11, as already described, and it is prevented from being laterally displaced by means of transverse pins 19 or in any other suitable and convenient manner that may suggest itself.

ln practice the pneumatic tube of my inn Vention may be supported in suitable chairs, one of which is shown at 20. These chairs may be secured in any suitable manner and in any desired position, or they may be dispensed IOO with entirely and other means adopted for the purpose of securing or mounting the pneumatic tube in its desired position.

From the foregoing' description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of my inven- Vention will be readily understood. Air or other fluid is forced into the tube behind the piston, which is thus forced through the said tube, carrying with it the exteriorly-arranged carrier and such car or other contrivance as may have been attached thereto.

When my improved pneumatic tube is elnployed as a railroad-motor, it is obvious thatrails are to be arranged in the usual manner to support the rollingstock- It will, however, be understood that my invention will be found useful for a variety of other purposes in addition to that of propelling cars. Thus, for instance, it might be used for the purpose of operating elevators and many diff ferent kinds of machinery, and I reserve the right to use my said invention to any purpose to which it may be applied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. The combination of the longitudinallyslotted pneumatic tube, the flexible interiorlyarranged valve-strip, the piston consisting of two heads connected by a longitudinal rod, the saddle arranged astride the piston-rod and having an arm extending outwardly through the slot in the tube, and the trans- 4verse pins to prevent longitudinal displacement of said saddle, the longitudinal flexible valve-strip being deiiected between the saddle and the piston-rod, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the longitudinallyslotted pneumatic tube having flanges or shoulders formed on the opposite sides of the longitudinal slot therein, the guide-cleats mounted adjustably upon said shoulders or flanges, the longitudinal flexible valve-strip, the piston consisting of two heads connected by the longitudinal rod, the saddle mounted astride the said rod and having the outwardly-extending arm, and the carrier mounted on said arm between the guide-strips, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the pneumatic tube having a longitudinal slot and provided with the longitudinal groove or recess in its upper part, the iiexible valve-strip seated inv said groove or recess and adapted to cover the said slot, the piston composed of two heads connected by a longitudinal rod, the saddle mounted asti-ide the piston-rod and having an arm extending outwardly through the slot in the tube, the guide-cleats, and the carrier, all arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. KELLY.

Vitnesses: I

WILLIAM J. HUMMEL, SAMUEL BULLooK. 

